Friday, November 19, 2010

What situation does Sidi find herself in at the end of the play?

Sidi is faced with the decision to choose between marrying Lakunle or Baroka at the end the play. Initially, Sidi does not marry Lakunle because he refuses to pay the bride-price, claiming that it is a savage custom. Sidi values traditional African customs and receiving a payment as a bride-price is very important to her. She also denies Baroka's attempt to marry her, claiming that he is too old. Sidi's decision to initially deny the Bale marriage because of his age is considered a modern view of marriage. This is one example of conflict between tradition and modernity that Soyinka depicts throughout the play. At the end of the play, Sidi loses her virginity to Baroka, which means that she has to either marry the Bale, or marry Lakunle and not accept payment for her bride-price because she is no longer a maid. According to Yuroba tradition, if a woman is not a virgin, the groom does not have to pay the bride-price. Sidi makes the decision to marry Baroka instead of receiving no payment and marrying Lakunle.

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